Device, method and computer program product for carrying out integrity tests on filter elements

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for carrying out integrity tests on filter elements by means of test gases, comprising a device housing ( 3 ), with an electronic controller ( 4 ), arranged therein for regulation and control of the progress of a test programme for filter elements, a filter housing ( 6 ), for housing a filter element ( 2 ) under test, a pneumatic unit ( 5 ), connected to the controller ( 4 ) and the filter housing ( 6 ), in particular for the generation and measurement of gas pressures, an electronic memory unit ( 10 ), which may be connected to the filter element ( 2 ) under test and a communication unit ( 13 ′), connected to the controller ( 4 ), for the exchange of data between the controller ( 4 ) and the electronic memory element ( 10 ). The communication unit ( 13 ′) is preferably embodied as an antenna ( 14 ′) and the electronic memory element ( 10 ) as a transponder ( 11 ). In addition to the device a method for carrying out integrity tests and a computer programme product are also disclosed.

The invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out an integrity teston filter elements by means of test gases, essentially comprising anelectronic control unit or closed-loop and/or open-loop control of thetest program procedure for the filter elements which are to be testedand are arranged in a filter housing, and a pneumatic unit which isconnected to the control unit and to the filter housing, in particularfor provision and measurement of gas pressures.

The invention also relates to a method for carrying out an integritytest on filter elements by means of a test apparatus.

The invention likewise relates to a computer program product forcarrying out integrity tests on filter elements.

Apparatuses for carrying out integrity tests on filter elements aredescribed, for example, in DE 39 17 856 C2, DE 199 26 002 A1, and DE 4339 589 C2.

These known apparatuses have the disadvantage that at least data whichcharacterizes the filter elements to be tested must be manually enteredin the test apparatus in order to make it possible in this way to carryout the integrity tests which are specified for these filter elements,such as a pressure maintenance test, diffusion test, bubble point test,or water intrusion test. This results in considerable potential errorscaused by operators incorrectly associating test data with the filterelements. One object of the invention is therefore to propose anapparatus for carrying out integrity tests on filter elements, whichlargely precludes manual errors by the operator.

In conjunction with an apparatus for carrying out an integrity test onfilter elements by means of test gases, essentially comprising anelectronic control unit or closed-loop and/or open-loop control of thetest program procedure for the filter elements which are to be testedand are arranged in a filter housing, and a pneumatic unit which isconnected to the control unit and to the filter housing, in particularfor provision and measurement of gas pressures, this object is achievedin that the control unit is connected to a communication part which isadjacent to the filter elements to be tested, and via which data can beinterchanged between the control unit and electronic memory elementswhich are arranged on the filter elements.

Since the control unit can interchange data via its communication partwith electronic memory elements which are arranged on the filterelements, this makes it possible for the test apparatus or its controlunit to automatically read the individual data items which characterizethe filter elements to be tested. Potential errors which resulting fromincorrect association of tested data with filter elements are thusreliably avoided.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, thecommunication part is an antenna for transmitting and receivingradio-frequency signals, and the electronic memory element is atransponder arranged on the filter element. The communication partpreferably comprises a data interface, a processor unit and an antenna.

Transponders can be read and, when required, written to without anycontact, with no visual contact being required to the read/write stationor the antenna of the controller. User-defined data may in this case bestored without any problems on the microchip of the transponder. Inaddition, transponder data can be protected by means of a password.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, theantenna is sheathed by an electrically poorly conductive material whichcomprises a chemically and thermally stable organic polymer.

The use of a poorly conductive material on the one hand does notsignificantly influence the performance of the antenna and, on the otherhand, the organic polymer protects the antenna.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, theantenna is a component of a housing wall of an apparatus housing or isat least arranged adjacent to the housing wall, with the housing wallbeing formed from an electrically poorly conductive material at least inan area adjacent to the antenna.

If the antenna is arranged within the apparatus housing, that is to sayoutside the filter housing, there is no need for the antenna to have itsown sheathing since it is protected by the apparatus housing. However,for the antenna performance, it is advantageous for the housing wall tobe formed from an electrically poorly conductive material, at least inan area adjacent to the antenna. In order to improve the antennaperformance, it is advantageous to arrange the antenna or that part ofthe housing wall to which the antenna is fitted such that the antennapoints at the transponders or filter elements, at least forcommunication.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the antenna isarranged outside the apparatus housing in the filter housing, and isconnected to the control unit via an electrical line.

Arranging the antenna in the filter element ensures reliabletransmission with low power levels. Good access is therefore provided tothe filter element data even in the installed state, and it is simple tocheck and identify the filter cartridge or the filter element at anytime. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, apressure maintenance test, a diffusion test, a bubble point test and/ora water intrusion test can be carried out as the integrity test. Thismeans that all the important integrity tests can be carried out usingthe apparatus according to the invention. Further tests may also beadded, if required.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the datainterchange between the control unit and the electronic memory elementsof the filter elements comprises the reading of data from the electronicmemory elements to the control unit and/or the reading of data to theelectronic memory elements from the control device and/or theoverwriting of data in the electronic memory elements by the controlunit. The reading to and storage of data in the electronic memoryelements and transponders makes it possible in particular to store testresults (test record file) on the transponder chip by means of a writingprocess. This makes it possible to produce a documentation-relevant“electronic accompanying paper”. Particularly if the integrity system isused at different locations and a permanent data backup on a centraldata management computer is not always provided, this always ensuresthat all the necessary documents are available at the location of thefiltration system—that is to say the point at which the filter elementto be tested is used. In this case, it is possible to store not only thecurrent test result but also the entire “history” in the memory of thetransponder, for analysis purposes.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the datato be interchanged is identification data for the filter elements, limitvalues for test data, measured test data and/or limiting data. Limitingdata may, in particular, include the life and maximum permissibleregeneration or sterilization cycles for the filter elements.

The known methods have the disadvantages mentioned above.

A further object of the invention is therefore to propose a method fortesting filter elements, which largely precludes manual errors by theoperator while carrying out integrity tests.

This object is achieved in a method for carrying out integrity tests onfilter elements by means of a test apparatus, by carrying out thefollowing steps:

-   -   a) identification data and/or limiting data and/or limit values        for test data are/is read from electronic memory elements which        are arranged on the respective filter elements,    -   b) the data from a) is stored in the test apparatus,    -   c) the integrity tests provided on the basis of the data are        carried out.

The potential faults which can occur with manual data transfer arereliably avoided by reading data from electronic memory elements whichare associated with the respective filter elements, and by storing thedata in the test apparatus.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, once theintegrity tests have been carried out, a test is carried out in afurther step to determine whether the limit values and/or the limitingdata for at least one of the measured data items have or has beenreached or exceeded. If the limit values and/or the limiting data haveor has been reached or exceeded, the filter elements are then inhibitedin a subsequent step.

The testing and, if necessary, subsequent inhibiting of the filterelements for further use considerably improves the reliability achievedby the integrity tests.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, once theintegrity tests have been carried out, the measured integrity data iswritten to the electronic memory elements or transponders for therespective filter elements.

Reliable “electronic accompanying papers” are thus produced by writingthe measured integrity data of the electronic memory elements ortransponders for the respective filter elements. This also allows thevalidity to be improved for future, further integrity tests.

A further object of the invention is to propose a computer programproduct for testing filter elements using the claimed test methods.

This object is achieved in conjunction with the method of the presentinvention in that program parts which assist the process of carrying outthe method of the present invention can be called up from a programmemory.

Since the assisting program parts can be called up from a program, thisconsiderably simplifies the design of a corresponding test apparatus andthe method.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention program partswhich assist the communication between a test apparatus and atransponder which is associated with the filter element to be tested canbe called up from the program memory.

The program parts which assist communication allow and speed up theautomatic communication between the test apparatus and the transpondersfor the filter elements.

Further details of the invention will become evident from the followingcomprehensive description and the attached drawings, which illustratethe preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for carrying outintegrity tests on filter elements having a communication part which isarranged within an apparatus housing,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for monitoringintegrity tests on filter elements having an electronic communicationpart which is arranged in a filter housing,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a method procedure based on analgorithm, in which data is only read from a transponder, and

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a method procedure based on analgorithm, in which both read access and write access are made to thetransponder for a filter element.

An apparatus 1 or test apparatus for carrying out integrity tests onfilter elements 2 essentially comprises an apparatus housing 3, andelectronic control unit 4 and a pneumatic unit 5.

The filter elements 2 to be tested are arranged in a filter housing 6which has an inlet line 7 and an outlet line 8.

The pneumatic unit 5 is provided with closed-loop or open-loop controlby the control unit 4 and is used in particular in a known manner forproduction and measurement of gas pressures. Lines which are notillustrated together with sensors and actuators which are notillustrated are used in a known manner for monitoring and measurement ofthe integrity of the filter element 2.

At its upper end 9, the filter element 2 has an electronic memoryelement 10 in the form of a transponder 11. A communication part 13 isarranged on one housing wall 12 of the apparatus housing 3, and is inthe form of an antenna 14.

According to another embodiment, the communication part 13′ and theantenna 14′ are arranged in the filter housing 6, and are connected tothe control unit 4 via an electrical connection 15.

In order to carry out the method, identification data and/or limitingdata and/or limit values for test data are/is read from the transponder11 for the filter element 2 and are/is stored in a memory, which is notillustrated, for the control unit 4, which provides closed-loop oropen-loop control for carrying out the integrity tests which areprovided on the basis of the data. The control unit 4 checks whether atleast one of the measured data items has reached or exceeded the limitvalues and/or the limiting data. If the limit values and/or the limitingdata have or has been reached or exceeded, the control unit 4 inhibitsthe filter elements 2. The integrity data which is measured aftercarrying out the integrity test is written to the transponders 11 forthe respective filter elements 2. The control unit 4 has programmemories from which program parts which assist the process of carryingout the method can be called up.

FIG. 3 shows that the method procedure based on an algorithm, in whichonly data is read from the transponder. After starting the test method,test parameter data is transferred from the transponder 11. The testparameters in this case are:

-   -   filter element number    -   filter element type    -   maximum diffusion    -   test pressure diffusion    -   bubble point limit value    -   stabilization time    -   test time

The integrity tests are carried out once any manual addition to the testparameters has been included.

FIG. 4 shows the method procedure based on an algorithm in which thetransponder 11 is accessed both for reading and writing. In this case,once the test has been carried out, the test result is stored in thecontrol unit 4 and/or in the transponder 11. By way of example, the testresult which is stored comprises:

-   -   file name    -   file size    -   user name    -   time and date    -   checksum    -   test assessment (positive/negative)    -   measured diffusion    -   test pressure setting    -   measured bubble point value    -   test parameters.

1. A method for carrying out integrity tests on filter elements by meansof test gases, an electronic control unit, and a pneumatic unit,comprising the following steps: a) identification data and/or limitingdata and/or limit values for test data are/is read from electronicmemory elements which are arranged on the respective filter element;said identification data comprises: (i) filter element number; (ii)filter element type; (iii) maximum diffusion; (iv) test pressurediffusion; (v) bubble point limit value; and (vi) stabilization time; b)the data from step a) is stored in a test apparatus; c) the integritytests provided on the basis of the data are carried out, said integritytests comprise; (i) test assessment (positive/negative); (ii) measureddiffusion; (iii) test pressure setting; and (iv) measured bubble pointvalue; d) a subsequent test is carried out to determine whether saidlimit values and/or said limiting data has been reached or exceeded byat least one of said measured test data items from a) and; e) thecontrol unit electronically inhibits the filter elements from furtheruse if said limit values and/or said limiting data has been reached orexceeded.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, after carryingout the integrity tests, the measured integrity data is written to theelectronic memory elements for the respective filter elements.
 3. Themethod for carrying out integrity tests on filter elements as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said data is password protected.
 4. A computer programproduct for carrying out integrity tests on filter elements, whereinprogram parts which assist the process of carrying out the method asclaimed in claim 1 can be called up from a program memory.
 5. Thecomputer program product as claimed in claim 4, wherein program partswhich assist the communication between a test apparatus and atransponder which is associated with the filter element to be tested canbe called up from the program memory.